Lots of games today.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were swept by the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals), 4-2 and 2-0. Memphis swept the five-game series from the I-Cubs.
In the first game, Dallas Beeler got off to a rough start, giving up a run in the first and three in the second. He settled down and pitched quite well after that, but by then the Cubs were too far behind to catch up in a seven-inning game. Beeler pitched six innings and allowed four runs on three hits. The biggest issue is that he walked five and hit one batter. Beeler struck out three.
In the sixth inning, right fielder Jorge Soler cracked his first Triple-A home run with a man on. Soler was 1 for 3.
Catcher Eli Whiteside was 2 for 3.
In game two, starting pitcher Carlos Pimentel allowed a solo home run in the first inning to Randall Grichuk and a unearned run in the fourth inning. That was all the scoring in game two. Pimentel pitched four innings and save up three hits. He struck out five and walked two.
Kyuji Fujikawa pitched the sixth inning, pitching on consecutive games for the second time this year. He allowed one hit and had one strikeout.
First baseman Mike Olt was 2 for 3 with a double.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies blew a 5-1 lead in the eighth inning and lost to the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 6-5.
Starter Corey Black had some early control problems, but he settled down and finished with a quality start. Black allowed one run on four hits over six innings. But mostly, that run came on a solo home run in the fourth inning. Black walked four (three in the first two innings) and struck out two.
Hunter Cervenka pitched a scoreless seventh inning, but he was pulled after he allowed hits to the first two batters of the eighth. In came Lendy Castillo, who allowed both of those runners to score and two of his own to tie the game 5-5. Castillo allowed the two runs on two walks and a bases-loaded double. He struck out one in the one inning he pitched.
Andrew McKirahan took the loss when second baseman Jonathan Mota booted an easy ground ball that would have been the final out of the inning, allowing Trayce Thompson to score from second base. McKirahan pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed one unearned run on one hit. He walked no one and struck out one.
Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, his third home run of the year. Ha was 2 for 5.
Third baseman Christian Villanueva was 2 for 5 with a double and a two-run single in the sixth. He scored twice.
First baseman Lars Anderson went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once.
Mota was 2 for 4 with an RBI triple in the sixth inning.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs swept a doubleheader from the St. Lucie Mets, 4-3 and 6-5.
Jose Rosario started game one and he allowed three runs on three hits over 4.1 innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Michael Jensen got the win because Rosario didn't pitch five innings. Jensen pitched one inning and allowed no runs on two hits, although he did allow one runner inherited from Rosario to score. Jensen struck out two and walked one.
Zack Godley pitched the final 1.2 innings for his tenth save and third for Daytona. He allowed one hit and got two batters to ground into double plays. Godley struck out one and didn't walk anyone.
Daytona scored four runs on three hits. Drawing five walks helped. Left fielder Kyle Schwarber did not have an official at-bat, but he drew two walks, scored a run and had a sacrifice fly. Billy McKinney was 0 for 1 with two walks.
Wes Darvill had a two-run single in the first inning. He was 1 for 3.
Game 2 starter Nathan Dorris went 4.2 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out five.
Starling Peralta got the win in relief. He pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits. He walked two and struck out one.
Daytona took the lead for good when first baseman Dan Vogelbach hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. It was Vogelbach's 12th home run this year. He was 1 for 3.
Darvill hit a two-run double in the fourth inning of game two. He was 1 for 2 with a walk in game two and he scored twice.
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars were drenched by the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers), 2-1.
Tyler Skulina was strong today, but picked up the loss anyway. He gave up a solo home run in the fourth inning, and that was the only run he allowed over seven innings. Skulina allowed only three hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
The Cougars got the tying run on second with one out in the bottom of the ninth after Shawon Dunston singled and Jeimer Candelario doubled. But Jacob Rogers could only manage a sacrifice fly and Cael Brockmeyer struck out to end the game.
Dunston was 2 for 4 and scored the run in the ninth. Kane County only had four hits in this game.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks lost to the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks), 4-3 in ten innings.
Starter Ryan McNeil allowed two runs on four hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Then Trey Lang pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit. Lang struck out one and didn't walk anyone, although he did hit one batter.
Lang was in line for the win when Boise scored a run on an error in the top of the tenth, but Francisco Carrillo gave up a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the tenth. He also walked one in a third of an inning.
Center fielder Charcer Burks was 3 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. He scored once and had one RBI. Right fielder Mark Zagunis was 2 for 4 with a walk.
AZL Cubs